Safety Terrence Ross no longer a secret at Wekiva High

CHRIS HAYS / ORLANDO SENTINEL

Wekiva safety Terrence Ross claps after successfully defending a Team Tampa receiver at the IMG Madden 7on7 tournament last month. Ross, who plays for the Central Florida 7on7 squad put together by Top Recruits Now, has four scholarship offers.

Wekiva safety Terrence Ross claps after successfully defending a Team Tampa receiver at the IMG Madden 7on7 tournament last month. Ross, who plays for the Central Florida 7on7 squad put together by Top Recruits Now, has four scholarship offers. (CHRIS HAYS / ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Apopka Wekiva defensive back Terrence Ross did everything he needed to do as a junior.

He returned interceptions for touchdowns, scooped and scored on multiple occasions and made one jarring hit after another.

Basically, Ross (6-3, 185) dominated games at the safety position.

The only problem was, college coaches did not know who Ross was and what he was capable of.

Wekiva, established in 2007, has never produced a Division I-A football signee.

But Ross has made it a point to get his name out there this offseason. His highlight film is circulating among coaches and he’s performing at a high level for the Top Recruits Now 7on7 team.

His efforts have paid off.

Ross, who received his first offer from Louisville March 21, has since picked up offers from NC State, Cincinnati and Wake Forest.

“It makes me even hungrier to keep striding, to keep going, knowing that I can make it,” Ross said. “I really can go far with my talent.”

Ross attributes much of his newfound attention to simply making himself more visible.

“My coaches have been getting my film out more,” he said. “Being out [at passing camps], playing with some of the top players on the team. Getting interviewed, more exposure in general.”

Ross, ranked No. 20 on the Sentinel’s 2013 Central Florida Super60, expects to receive more offers this spring when schools such as Florida, Miami, Northwestern and Rutgers scout him during spring practice.

For now, Ross said that he’s interested in all four schools that have offered him, although he is favoring two in particular.

“All four, but really Louisville and North Carolina State,” he said.

But Louisville, the first school to take a chance on him, will always be in consideration for Ross.

“[Head coach] Charlie Strong has a nice bond,” Ross said. “He’s from where I’m from and used to coach in Belle Glade. So he knows where I’m coming from. And he’s the defensive coach even though he’s the head coach.”